Team

Boris Pustyntsev, Chair

Boris Pustyntsev, born 1935, is a prominent human rights activist.

In 1956, he was a student of English philology in St. Petersburg, then Leningrad, when Soviet tanks crushed the freedom uprising in Hungary. Pustyntsev and a small group of fellow students responded by issuing leaflets demanding an immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops. In 1957, the KGB arrested the group and Pustyntsev subseguently spent five years in jails and labour camps.

Before perestroika, Mr. Pustyntsev worked at various film studios of the former USSR dubbing and subtitling foreign films. He had to leave the movie industry after being viciously attacked in early 1992 by KGB thugs who badly damaged his eyes.

In 1993, Boris Pustyntsev received the Officer’s Cross of the Republic of Hungary as a token of the nation’s deepest gratitude.

Boris Pustyntsev was one of the founders of St. Petersburg NGO Memorial that unites former victims of political repression.

He lectures on human rights issues and regularly contributes to mass media.

007 812 380 6030

Yuri Vdovin, Deputy Chair

Born in Leningrad in 1938, Yuri Vdovin had a degree in engineering (1966) and worked at various oil and chemistry enterprises.

In 1990, Vdovin was elected Deputy to the City Council of St. Petersburg and Chair of Freedom of Expression and Mass Media Commission.

Took part in liberal movements People's Front, Democratic Russia, Democratic Choice of Russia. Co-founder of NGOs AntiFascist Union, Baltic Media Centre, Centre for NGO Development.

Since 1995, Deputy Chair of Citizens' Watch and since 1998, Deputy Chairman of Ecology and Human Rights Centre Bellona.

Author of numerous publications on human rights, mass media, ecology and civil society.

007 812 380 6030

Elena Likhacheva, Chief Accountant

Born 1961, graduated from Leningrad Engineering University (1989). Completed post-graduate studies at St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance (degree in accounting, 2004).

Has worked in nonprofit sector for nearly 20 years, and with Citizens' Watch since 2002.

Tel. 007 812 380 6030

Alexander Bransky, Executive Director

Born in Leningrad in 1944. A graduate of the Philology Department of Leningrad State University, specialising in English literature(1968).

Translated English, American and Canadian novelists into Russian. Member of Russian Union of Writers since 1992.

Completed the Higher Education Course in international tourism (Moscow, 1970) and an International Human Rights Course run by Helsinki Foundation for Human RIghts (Warsaw, 2002).

Alexander has worked with Citizens' Watch since 2000.

007 812 380 6030

Elena Shakhova, Project Coordinator

Born in Leningrad in 1977. Graduated from Economics Department of St. Petersburg State University (2000). Completed an International Human Rights Course run by Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Warsaw, 2004).

Elena has worked with Citizens' Watch since 1998. She currently coordinates the project "Strengthening Access to Justice for the Poor in the Russian Federation".

007 812 380 6033

Maria Razumovskaya, Project Coordinator

A graduate of the English Department, St. Petersburg Herzen State Pedagogical University (1989), Maria later completed a short course on human rights law at the University of Nottingham (1997) and a Chevening Fellowship course "Government Relations with NGOs and Civil Society" at the University of Glasgow (2009).

Maria has worked as a Project Coordinator with Citizens' Watch since 1995.

Her job ranges from organising international conferences, round table discussions and exchange visits; doing research on legislation and legal practices in Western Europe and post-Soviet countries; arranging training courses, study visits and internships for Russian experts; to compiling and editing handbooks on international legal standards and practices.

Over the last 10 years, Maria has helped to organise numerous activities aimed at developing juvenile justice and probation service in Russia.

She also works occasionally with foreign filmmakers for various documentaries on Russian history, culture and current social problems.

007 812 380 6030

Yulia Markova, Project Coordinator

Born in Leningrad, Yulia graduated from St. Petersburg Higher School of Economics in 2008, specialising in jurisprudence.

Joined Citizens' Watch in 2008; the next year completed a training course in mediation.

(812) 380 6033

Maxim Timofeyev, Legal Adviser

Tel. 007 812 380 6030

Evgenia Nepomniashchaya, Accountant

Evgenia graduated from Leningrad State University, Mathematics and Mechanics Department (1969).

Her main job is teaching higher mathematics at St. Petersburg University of Cinema and Television.

Has worked with Citizens' Watch since 1995.

007 380 6030

Anastasia Samsonova, Secretary

Born in Leningrad in 1989.

Anastasia joined Citizens' Watch in May 2009. She is currently a student of St. Petersburg University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, specialising in economics and management.

007 380 6030 E-mail: citwatch@citwatch.org

Igor Kovin, System Administrator

Igor was born in Leningrad in 1938, graduated from Herzen University, foreign languages department.

Member of St. Petersburg Literary Union.

Igor has worked with Citizens' Watch since 1995.

Elvira Pustyntseva, Editor

Elvira was born in Vladivostok, then moved to Leningrad and graduated from Leningrad State University in 1957 specialising in French.

Elvira has worked with Citizens' Watch since the very start of the organisation in 1992.

007 812 380 6033